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Now her days
consist of listening to audio books and walking the hallways of the
nursing facility. She also practices facial expressions and is slowly
getting used to her new teeth.

'They just made some bottom teeth for me recently,' she said. 'I'm not used to them yet. It's still a little bit of work eating.

Saved: She underwent a face transplant in 2011 and was fitted with glass eyes. She recently got a new set of bottom teeth, which she says she is still getting used to

Injuries: She was left with a thumb on one hand and lost the other hand between her wrist and elbow

'I
can't chew steak. I can chew chicken, it's a little softer. I can chew
pizza. The crust is hard, but the pizza is OK. I'm starting to get back
into eating salads again. That was my favorite, salads.'

She
hopes that one day she will be able to live at home instead of a facility. In the nursing
home, she says that the staff and residents keep their distance, perhaps
out of fear.

She said that
it's tough that the staff and residents aren't making the situation
easier for her, but that she's determined to get on without their
encouragement.

'I've never been a quitter,' said Nash, who bought up her daughter, Briana, on her own.

Violent: Nash, pictured before the attack (right), was attacked by her friend's chimp Travis (left) in 2009

Life changing: An illustration, left, shows how Nash's face was damaged in the attack - she lost her eyes, nose and lips. But the transplant, right, gave her back these features

Intense: A team of more than 30 physicians, nurses, residents and other clinical staff are pictured at work during the 20 hour procedure at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston

She also hopes to use her story so
that others don't have to face a similar ordeal, and is working with
advocates on a video to encourage stronger laws restricting exotic
animals.

She said she never
felt at ease with Travis being locked up in her friend's home. The
friend, Sandra Herold, died of an aneurism in 2010.

'I remember looking at him in his cage and feeling sorry for him,' she said. 'My thoughts were always, "How is she allowed this animal in her house? What if he gets loose someday and somebody gets hurt?" I know the animals are cute - but they're just not pets.'

After
the attack, her family sought permission to sue Connecticut for $150
million for failing to seize the animal before the attack.

But
the state claims commissioner died permission, saying that state law
did not prohibit the private ownership of chimpanzees at the time of the
attack.

After the transplant: She underwent a face transplant in 2011, pictured, and was given glass eyes

New life: Nash is pictured at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut in 2012